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Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-r

Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
41
Overall
38
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7 front
 
Pentax K-r front
Portability
67
Imaging
53
Features
52
Overall
52

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-r Key Specs

Panasonic SZ7
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 133g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Released January 2012
Pentax K-r
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 598g - 125 x 97 x 68mm
  • Announced March 2011
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Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-r Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-r, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the SZ7 (14MP) and the K-r (12MP) is pretty similar but the SZ7 (1/2.3") and K-r (APS-C) have totally different sensor measurements.

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The SZ7 was unveiled 11 months after the K-r which means that they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic SZ7 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-r being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick view of how the SZ7 matches up vs the K-r when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ7 over the Pentax K-r

 SZ7 K-r 
AnnouncedJanuary 2012March 2011More modern by 11 months

Reasons to pick Pentax K-r over the Panasonic SZ7

 K-r SZ7 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Screen resolution921k460kClearer screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic SZ7 and Pentax K-r

 SZ7 K-r 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-r Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry around your camera often, you're going to have to think about its weight and size. The Panasonic SZ7 features exterior dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 133 grams (0.29 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-r has specifications of 125mm x 97mm x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7") and a weight of 598 grams (1.32 lbs).

See the Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-r in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have chosen at the time. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the SZ7 and the K-r.

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-r size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ7 and K-r is 95 and 67 respectively.

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-r top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-r Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be hard to envision the gap between sensor sizes purely by reviewing specifications. The picture underneath may provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ7 and K-r.

To sum up, each of these cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The SZ7 using its tinier sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field harder and the Panasonic SZ7 will deliver more detail having an extra 2MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs more aggressively. The more recent SZ7 will have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-r sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-r Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-r Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax K-r Portrait photography highlights
33
MP count good (14MP)
has face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
63
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 Street photography features
Pentax K-r Street photography features
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (133g)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-r as a Sports photography camera
43
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
has tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
55
great max shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
low frames per second (6.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
bad battery power (470 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-r Travel photography factors
70
lighter than average (133 grams)
MP count good (14MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
long zoom (250mm)
no Timelapse recording
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.1)
47
flash built-in
bad battery power (470 per charge)
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-r as a Landscape photography camera
42
relatively wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
no Timelapse recording
65
you can focus manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
bad battery power (470 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 Vlogging information
Pentax K-r Vlogging information
35
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average (133 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
no microphone support
26
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone socket
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Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-r Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ7 and Pentax K-r
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7Pentax K-r
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7 Pentax K-r
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2012-01-09 2011-03-11
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4320 x 3240 4288 x 2848
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW pictures
Min boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 23 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-250mm (10.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.1-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 4cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT Color LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 96%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 10.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.60 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync, High-Speed Sync and Wireless Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 133 grams (0.29 pounds) 598 grams (1.32 pounds)
Physical dimensions 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") 125 x 97 x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 72
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 755
Other
Battery life 220 pictures 470 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $199 $1,100